Question

What are the differences between mechanical and non-mechanical waves?

Answer 1

Mechanical waves....
1. Wave which need the mechanical medium (medium with the properties of inertia and elasticity) to propagate are called Mechanical waves.

2. Sound waves are called Mechanical waves because They need the mechanical medium (medium with the properties of inertia and elasticity) to propagate.


3. Mechanical waves cannot travel through vacuum.


Electromagnetic or non mechanical waves...

1. Wave which do not need the mechanical medium (medium with the properties of inertia and elasticity) to propagate are called Electromagnet waves.

2. Light waves are called Electromagnet waves because They do not need the mechanical medium (medium with the properties of inertia and elasticity) to propagate.

3. Electromagnet waves can travel through vacuum

Example...sound wave is an example of a mechanical wave.
light waves are examples of electromagnetic waves.